Instructors

Will Clipman - Guest artist

Instructor | Drumming TrackWill Clipman began playing his father’s drums and his mother’s piano at the age of three. He played his first professional gig at fourteen and has since then mastered a pan-global palette of drums and percussion in addition to the traditional drumset. Will has received seven GRAMMY® Nominations, including one for his solo world music album ​“Pathfinder”. He is a three-time Native American Music Award Winner, a Canadian Aboriginal Music Award Winner, a New Age Reporter Music Award Winner, a Zone Music Reporter Award Winner, and a two-time TAMMIE Award Winner, and has been inducted into the Tucson Musicians Museum for his contributions to the musical community in his hometown. Will has recorded over sixty albums, including over thirty for the world’s foremost Native American music label Canyon Records, where he is regarded as the house percussionist. Will has performed and recorded with the world’s premiere Native American flutist R. Carlos Nakai for over a quarter-century, as well as with many other internationally-acclaimed artists and ensembles and has toured throughout the United States as well as in Canada, Germany, Morocco and Russia. His solo Planet of Percussion® performance and workshop takes audiences of all ages on a world tour of rhythm and polyrhythm. WillClipman.com

Suzanne Teng & Gilbert Levy

Instructor | Intermediate, Advanced, Master Levels​Called a “brilliant flutist” by the Los Angeles Times, Suzanne is the winner of the Los Angeles Music Awards, International Acoustic Music Awards and two-time winner of the Independent Music Awards (Best New Age Artist). Suzanne plays an array of flutes from the around the world and performs internationally with her husband and music partner Gilbert Levy and their world music band MYSTIC JOURNEY. Their album ​“Kingdom of Mountains” recently received a New Mexican Music Award, Akademia Award and Global Music Award. As a recording artist, she can be heard on numerous feature film and television soundtracks and commercials. She has performed on the SURVIVOR (live) shows that were viewed by over 70 million people and has had her music featured on America’s Got Talent. Suzanne started playing the flute at 10 and was teaching by 14. She has taught at universities, conservatories, conventions and camps across the country. A known and respected educator, she has been invited to serve on the panel for Music Education for the National Endowment for the Arts for the past three years. Suzanne received her Masters degree in Music Performance from Boston University and completed the coursework for the Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology at UCLA. She is an endorsed artist for YAMAHA. SuzanneTeng.com

joseph L young

Instructor | End-blown Flutes – Mojave, Anasazi/Pueblo, Shakuhachi, Xiao​Joe has spent his entire life intimately involved with music. He composed his first song at age eleven, continued with classical training on saxophone from sixth grade through college, then fell in love with the Native American style flute.

Joe’s fourth and fifth self-produced albums “Ethereum” (2016) and “Every Moment” (2018) both received Triple Silver Global Music Awards for Best Album, Composer and Instrumentalist, as well as many other award nominations and wins. His compositions have garnered accolades from recognized critics around the globe, and his albums continue to receive worldwide acknowledgments, radio airplay, and top chart placements. “Sheer abundance of talent,” “breathtakingly beautiful,” and “ground-breaking” are some of the words used to describe his music.

As a versatile and gifted multi-instrumentalist, Joe embraces the belief that art should have no restrictions. He is known for his mastery on a wide variety of ethnic flutes from around the world – Native American style flutes, the Pueblo/Anasazi, Irish pennywhistle, Chinese xiao, the modern mathematical end-blown Phi flute, South and Central American clay drone flute and others. Joe shares his musical passion and expertise through private lessons and group instruction at flute schools throughout the Country, with subjects ranging from beginning to advanced flute, to embellishment, improvisation, musical communication, stage craft, showmanship and inspiration. He is also a 2nd degree black belt in Chinese Shao-Lin Kung Fu and Tai Chi. Having spent 14 years studying the martial arts discipline, he carries many of the philosophies of grounding, breathing, inner balance and training into his musical performances and teachings. Students of all abilities find Joe to be a patient, gracious, motivating and knowledgeable teacher. JosephLYoung.com

kalani das

Instructor | Intermediate, Advanced, Master LevelsKalani Das is an internationally recognized musician, educator, and music therapist. He has performed with artists such as Yanni, Suzanne Ciani, Kenny Loggins, Barry Manilow, and others. The author of over ten books, including Together in Rhythm and The Way of Music, Kalani presents workshops for educators across the US and internationally. He has published numerous educational videos and is the creator of the Developmental Community Music (DCM) approach to facilitation. Kalani is the author of “The Healing Flute Program,” a self-study guide to healing through music. He is the director of Golden State Music Therapy, serving people with disabilities and challenges in the Los Angeles area. Connect with Kalani on most social media. Kalanimusic.com

shelley morningsong

Instructor | Beginner 1New Mexico’s Shelley Morningsong, winner of the 16th Annual Native American Music Awards “Artist of the Year” Award, 2011 Native American Music Awards “Record of the Year,”Grammy Member, ASCAP Member, and other multiple music awards, was born into music. Her grandmother taught music and played piano. Her mother played accordion and piano. Her grandfather played banjo. Morningsong herself picked up guitar and classical flute as a child, earning an early education in her craft by making up musical skits for her family members. She later picked up the Native flute, an instrument that now holds a special place in her heart. All of those things put her on the trajectory that has brought her to today, when she represents one of the leading voices in Contemporary Native Music. The running theme throughout her traditional Native flute playing and Contemporary music is one of universal oneness and a message of peace and love. Shelley is joined by her husband, Fabian Fontenelle. Fabian is the great, great son of the famed Chief Big Elk, and an original member of the American Indian Dance Theater. ShelleyMorningsongOnline.com

Rona Yellow Robe

Instructor | Beginner 2​ 2014, 2015 & 2016 Native American Music Awards (NAMA) Flutist of the Year, Rona Yellow Robe was born and raised in Havre, Montana and is an enrolled member of the Chippewa Cree Tribe of Rocky Boy, Montana. Rona is known for her powerful vocal ability, Native American flute style, and heart-filled presence. She picked up her first flute in 2002 and has been on a Musical and Spiritual journey ever since. It is by playing the Native American flute, which she refers to as her “other voice,” that she has become comfortable sharing with all audiences many aspects of her life that are personal and meaningful to her. Rona Yellow Robe and Bruce Witham have been creating music together since May, 2008. They have recorded three albums, “Voice of the Trees” (2009), “The Gathering” (2012) and, most recently a Christmas album entitled “Lighting Our Way” (2013). In 2010, Rona and Bruce received the Native American Music Awards nomination as Songwriters of the Year for their song, “Voice of the Trees.” Also, Rona and Bruce's album, “The Gathering” was Nominated for Record of the Year by the 2014 NAMA. RonaYellowRobe.net

fabian fontenelle

Flute Bag Making Class | Ancient Wisdom Workshop | Concert & StorytellingFabian Fontenelle is Zuni/Omaha. He was born in Zuni Pueblo, New Mexico but he also has family in Nebraska. Fabian is the great, great Grandson of the famed Chief Big Elk of the Omaha people. Fabian compliments The Shelley Morningsong Band by adding what has been a long history of delighting audiences from his countless travels around the world. With powerful dance performances intertwined with traditional storytelling, Fabian depicts a profound imagery of a “Spirit World” pronouncing the spoken word of his ancestors in his fluent Native Zuni Language. A performance by Fabian Fontenelle is a show in itself, a captivating display of ancient sacred songs, dancing, drumming and hand-crafted regalia adorned with the intricacy of hand-beading and more. Fabian is an original member of the American Indian Dance Theatre, and also provided master-work choreography and performances with two-time Grammy Award Winning Taos Pueblo, NM acclaimed artist Robert Mirabal on tour in “Music from a Painted Cave” which was also featured on PBS television under “Great Performances”. Fabian is also an educator on the history of Native America and has done consulting work and acting for the History Channel, “Into the West” produced by Stephen Spielberg and other productions as well as education for public schools and museums. Learn more about Fabian here.

brent haines

Flute Making Class​Brent Haines is founder of Woodsounds Flutes, producer of some of the finest, most beautiful flutes in the world and favorites of numerous recording artists. As an engineer, Brent’s life is making peoples’ dreams into reality. As a flute maker, he creates wooden flutes that allow people turn their dreams and feelings into music magic. Over the years, Brent has helped hundreds of people begin playing the flute and have seen them create magical experiences. ​Woodsounds.com

"The instructors gave their all and the students responded by soaring to heights beyond their own expectations. Even the brand new students that showed up with no experience and no flutes were playing beautifully from their hearts within days. It was magical...it was mystical...and it was moving!" ​J.D., Colorado